My Substitute CEO Bride (Nash Calicraft) novel Chapter 2317

“Who said I’m your wife? I never agreed to this!” Zoe snapped.

Barther burst into laughter. “You really like to joke around, don’t you, my dear? Let me tell you the truth. If you marry me, everything will be fine. If you refuse, well, you have no right to refuse!"

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the door followed by a man covered in wounds stumbling in.

Zoe rushed forward. “Zandy!”

It was Zander, Zoe’s younger brother and Zefir’s youngest son. Seeing him bruised and battered, Zoe’s heart ached.

“Zandy, what happened?” she asked, concerned.

Zander pushed her behind him. “Zoe, you need to leave now! The Patel family has captured everyone in our family!”

Hearing this, a flash of fear crossed Zoe’s eyes. She turned to Barther, her gaze growing increasingly dazed as she realized her father’s dilemma. To protect the family, he had no choice but to agree to this.

Barther still had a smug smile on his face as he slowly walked over to Zander.

"Zander, what are you doing? We’re about to become family. Don't make us a laughing stock," Barther said, his voice dripping with mockery.

“Don’t act like you're close to me!” Zander shoved Barther away with all his strength. “Your family is nothing but—”

Before he could finish, Barther grabbed the weakened Zander with one hand, lifting him into the air. "What is it?" Barther’s smile remained, but the powerful true energy emanating from him made it clear that he could kill Zander at any moment.

“The Heifers aren't cowards who fear death!” Zander swung a punch at Barther, who broke it swiftly. Zander cried out in agony.

Zoe shook her head. She was a martial artist. She had always been the one protecting her family. The thought of abandoning them to save herself was unbearable.

“Run? You’re not going anywhere,” Barther said as he approached with a menacing air.

Zoe could tell from his true energy that she was no match for him. She then remembered the three people she could control and quickly unleashed her true energy.

“Obey my command! Come to me!” she commanded.

Back at the training ground, Francel and Marcus were unaffected. They had sensed Zoe's true energy in the food earlier and had purged it from their bodies after eating.

However, at that moment, Chuck stood up.